BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President
Ms. Carla McFarland
Alpine, Texas

A Rice graduate with an MBA from Southern Methodist University, Ms. McFarland considers herself a “serial entrepreneur.” She is perhaps best-known in the Alpine area as the rescuer of the Historic Holland Hotel. Ms. McFarland bought the old hotel in 1985 and completed a full historic restoration on the 1928 building. As a result of this restoration work and also thanks to the expansion of hotel services and clientele over two decades under her management, today the Holland is a Texas Registered Historic Landmark and one of the finest hotels between San Antonio and El Paso, helping to boost tourism in Alpine and the Big Bend area.

Before she sold the hotel in 2006, Ms. McFarland partnered to form both a historic renovation firm and a boutique real-estate investment partnership with holdings in Texas and Indiana. And last year she founded her latest entrepreneurial venture: E-Optech, Inc., which specializes in the development of highly proprietary, custom software.

Ms. McFarland has been active in the community since moving to Alpine from Dallas in 1985. She served on the board of the Alpine Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and on the City of Alpine Tourism Board. She is a founding board member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of the Big Bend. She is a co-founder and former vice president of Big Bend Democratic Women and has served as a delegate to the Texas Democratic State Convention.

 

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Secretary/Treasurer
Ms. Adrianna Bernal
San Antonio, Texas

Ms. Bernal is a native of San Antonio and a graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law. She works as the Executive director of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus in Austin, providing administrative leadership for this group of 43 Members of the Texas House of Representatives who share Latino heritage and/or predominantly Hispanic constituencies.

Ms. Bernal also serves as Director of the Mexican American Legislative Leadership Foundation and manages its bi-annual Hispanic internship program at the Texas Capitol. She previously worked in the Capitol office of State Rep. Pete Gallego.

 

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Member
Sgt. Miguel "Mike" Cordero
Fort Stockton, Texas

Sgt. Miguel “Mike” Cordero was born and raised in Fabens, Texas, one of three children of Johnny and Emma Cordero. After graduating from Fabens High School in 1977, Mr. Cordero attended the University of Texas at El Paso, then in 1979 transferred to Sul Ross State University where he was also employed as a University Police Officer. It wasn’t long before he found police work more fulfilling than his studies, so he left the university in June of 1982 to pursue his lifelong career in law enforcement.

His first job was with the Texas Department of Public Safety, where he served 10 years as a Texas Highway Patrolman. After that, he served seven years a Criminal Law Enforcement Trooper. In 1998 the Department of Public Safety promoted him to Sergeant in the Narcotics division, where he serves today.

Along with his wife of 23 years, Rosalinda, Sgt. Cordero has made Fort Stockton his home since 1984 and raised his two children there. He keeps busy in the Fort Stockton community as an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where he volunteers his time to fundraising. He also volunteer-coaches Pee Wee baseball and Little League, as well as coaching the Little Dribblers youth basketball.

 

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Member
The Hon. Pete P. Gallego
Alpine, Texas

CLICK HERE

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Member
Mr. Rowland Garza
Del Rio, Texas

(to come)

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Member
Mr. Brian Powell
Alpine, Texas

A native of Odessa, Mr. Powell is well-known in the Alpine community as the District Officer Director for State Rep. Pete Gallego. In this role, he has handled constituent communications and represented Rep. Gallego at public events in District 74 since 2002.

Mr. Powell earned his Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Sul Ross State University in 2004. As part of his graduate program, he had the unique opportunity to intern with the U.S. Marshals Service, transporting inmates, overseeing program components and studying fugitive-tracking techniques.

He hasn’t always been tied to the fields of politics and justice: Mr. Powell has also worked for stints as a wildland firefighter, railroad yardman, oilfield drilling rig operator and a pipe-fitter. His well-rounded experience has earned him trust with the hard-working constituents of District 74.